By Pete Wortman
MIDDLEFORD, Del. (July 17, 2026) — Dan Leaper of Douglassville, Pa., captured his first career DCB Plumbing & Heating Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series presented by Capitol Renegade victory Friday night during the series’ inaugural visit to Middleford Speedway.
Leaper took advantage of selecting the pole position in the Tanner Bros. Dairy Store redraw and led all 25 laps of the $1,000-to-win feature sponsored by Betts Garage Towing and Hauling.
Leaper shared the Capitol Custom Trailers front row with Robbie Stillwaggon, who had edged him in the opening heat race. Determined to change the outcome, Leaper wasted no time taking command at the drop of the green while Stillwaggon settled into second.
Behind the leaders, the racing was intense throughout the field as the quarter-mile oval produced side-by-side battles and frequent position changes. Championship contenders Tim Iulg and Troy Betts both lost ground in the opening laps before beginning their climb back toward the front.
Rick Lafferty worked his way past Stillwaggon just before halfway and began reeling in Leaper as the leader encountered lapped traffic. Leaper expertly negotiated slower cars to maintain his advantage before the race’s lone caution flew on lap 16 when Eddie Wagner coasted to a stop along the inside of the frontstretch with a broken driveshaft.
The restart put Lafferty directly on Leaper’s rear bumper, but with clean racetrack ahead, Leaper steadily pulled away once again.
Meanwhile, two-time series winner Dave Brown Jr. found himself locked in an entertaining battle with Iulg and Betts for fourth place as the trio thrilled the crowd over the closing laps.
Leaper crossed the finish line 0.995 seconds ahead of Lafferty to secure his first career MASS victory. Lafferty finished second for the second consecutive event, while Robbie Stillwaggon completed the podium.
Iulg won the battle for fourth, with series point leader Betts rallying back to finish fifth, marking his ninth top-five finish in 10 series events this season.
Heat races were won by Robbie Stillwaggon and series rookie Tyler Grau. Iulg established a new track record during hot laps with a lap of 13.795 seconds, earning the Next Generation Construction Quick Time Award for the fifth time this season. Eight drivers recorded laps under 14 seconds during the evening.
The Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series returns to action Saturday, July 25, at Bridgeport Speedway in Swedesboro, N.J., for the 11th event of the 2026 season.
